Bhandup to get new RoB by 2027 to ease East-West traffic woes

Work on a new Road Over Bridge (ROB) in Bhandup is set to gain momentum from October, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announcing that full-fledged construction will be launched after the monsoon season. The project, estimated at ₹129.43 crore, is expected to transform east-west connectivity in the suburb and significantly cut down travel time for residents.

The 530-metre-long bridge is being constructed to provide an alternative link between LBS Marg on the western side and Veer Savarkar Marg on the eastern side. Currently, residents are forced to rely on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and the Andheri-Goregaon Link Road (AGLR), which are separated by a distance of five kilometres and frequently suffer from traffic congestion during peak hours.

According to civic officials, the bridge will not only reduce travel time by almost half but also ease pressure on the already overburdened JVLR and AGLR routes. The structure is located just 100 metres from an old railway crossing that had been shut for vehicular traffic in the early 2000s. Its closure had triggered longstanding demands from residents for an alternate east-west route, a demand that is now being fulfilled through this project.

The bridge has been designed with a total length of 529.53 metres, including 233.50 metres on the eastern flank, 207.30 metres on the western side, and 89 metres spanning the railway tracks. A three-lane configuration has been proposed, with deck widths of 11.50 metres on the BMC portion and 15.60 metres on the railway section. The overall design consists of 14 spans, seven on the eastern side, five on the western side, and two across the railway line.

Progress on the project has already begun, with pier foundations underway on the western side. However, officials acknowledged that work on the eastern side has been slower, as it depends on permissions related to tree cutting, encroachments, and the acquisition of portions of salt pan land. The Railways is also reviewing the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD), which must be approved before the bridge can cross over the railway line.

Completion of the bridge is targeted for early 2027. Civic officials have expressed confidence that the combination of this ROB with the recently opened Vikhroli bridge will bring considerable relief to commuters, providing smoother travel options across the eastern suburbs of Mumbai.